Where do you fish for peacock bass near Miami?

Captain Lester and Captain Tristen fish for peacock bass in the Florida Everglades and the surrounding canal systems of Miami-Dade County. These freshwater trips are offered on rough ocean days when offshore and inshore conditions are not safe.

What lures work best for peacock bass?

Topwater plugs, jerkbaits, and soft plastic jigs are the most effective lures for peacock bass. They are aggressive ambush predators that respond well to lures worked along canal banks, bridge pilings, and vegetation edges.

Target Species

Peacock Bass

Name: Fishing With Lester
Address: 1835 NE Miami Gardens Drive, Suite #514, North Miami Beach, FL, 33179, US
Telephone: (954) 557-8501

Discover the thrill of peacock bass fishing in the Florida Everglades with Captain Lester. Target this exotic, hard-fighting freshwater species on days when ocean conditions push us inland.

Book a Charter Call (954) 557-8501

The Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris) is one of the most exciting freshwater fish you can catch in South Florida. Originally from the Amazon River basin in South America, peacock bass were introduced to Florida's canal systems in 1984 to help control invasive tilapia populations. They thrived in the warm freshwater canals and waterways of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, and today South Florida is one of the only places in the United States where you can catch this exotic species.

Peacock bass are easily recognized by their brilliant colors — vibrant greens, golds, and oranges with a distinctive eye spot (ocellus) on the tail fin that gives them their name. They are aggressive ambush predators that strike hard and fight even harder, making them a favorite among light-tackle anglers. Most peacock bass caught in South Florida's canals range from 2 to 6 pounds, though fish over 8 pounds are caught regularly in the Everglades and surrounding canal systems.

When and Where We Fish

Peacock bass are available year-round in the canals and freshwater areas of South Florida, but the best fishing is during the warmer months from March through October when water temperatures are highest. On days when ocean conditions are rough and offshore or inshore fishing out of Haulover Inlet is not safe, Captain Lester and Captain Tristen take clients into the Florida Everglades and the surrounding canal systems for freshwater fishing. This means your trip never gets canceled — you just shift to a different, equally exciting fishery.

Technique and Tackle

Peacock bass respond best to artificial lures — topwater plugs, jerkbaits, and soft plastic jigs worked along canal banks, bridge pilings, and vegetation edges. Light spinning tackle is the preferred setup, and the explosive topwater strikes are some of the most exciting you will experience in freshwater fishing anywhere in the world.

Why Fish for Peacock Bass?

Peacock bass offer a unique fishing experience that you simply cannot get anywhere else in the continental United States. Their aggressive nature, beautiful coloring, and powerful fight make them a bucket-list species for visiting anglers. Combined with the incredible scenery of the Everglades, a peacock bass trip with Fishing With Lester is an unforgettable day on the water.

Want to target exotic peacock bass in the Everglades? Contact Captain Lester to book your freshwater charter or call (954) 557-8501 to plan your trip.